The Last of Us

Sony-owned developer Naughty Dog's brand of story-packed action is relatively new to the world of PC gaming, but it sounds like we could miss out on more of ...

Naughty Dog’s co-president Neil Druckmann commented in a [Buzzfeed](https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/last-of-us-behind-the-scenes?d_id=5414912) interview that the company is “moving on” from the Uncharted series, and that they’re not feeling pressured into making The Last Of Us Part III. “Our process is the same thing we did when we did Part 2, which is if we can come up with a compelling story that has this universal message and statement about love – just like the first and second game did – then we will tell that story. “They have supported us every step of the way to follow our passions — meaning that just because something is successful, people think there's all this pressure and we have to make a sequel. If we can't come up with something, we have a very strong ending with Part 2 and that will be the end.” Nuff said, Neil. “We're moving on.” That might be particularly disappointing to hear for PC-owning fans of the series, as we’ve only had a chance to natively play Uncharted 4 and standalone spin-off The Lost Legacy so far. “For us, Uncharted was insanely successful – Uncharted 4 was one of our best selling games – and we're able to put our final brushstroke on that story and say that we're done,” Druckmann said.

Naughty Dog's co-president Neil Druckmann has revealed in an interview with Buzzfeed that the studio may never release The Last of Us Part 3.

He said, “I know there’s a bunch of people wondering about The Last Of Us Part 3 and whether that will be a thing or not. If we can’t come up with something, we have a very strong ending with Part 2 and that will be the end.” This topic was broached due to [ the success of the HBO adaption](https://gameluster.com/hbos-the-last-of-us-viewership-grows-breaks-record/) of The Last of Us.

The Last of Us will only return if Naughty Dog knows exactly the right story to tell, says HBO series cocreator and game creative director Neil Druckmann.

If we can’t come up with something, we have a very strong ending with Part 2 and that will be the end.” “Which is if we can come up with a compelling story that has this universal message and statement about love — just like the first and second game did — then we will tell that story. “They have supported us every step of the way to follow our passions — meaning that just because something is successful, people think there’s all this pressure and we have to make a sequel.

Videogames are shaping up as the next content gold mine for movies and television. Sony will be a major beneficiary.

Sony is in a unique position to take advantage of the trend. HBO’s new post-apocalyptic series “The Last of Us," adapted from a PlayStation game, is a smash hit—and symptomatic of a larger shift in the entertainment world. For Sony, ‘The Last of Us’ is just the start3 min read .

PlayStation developer Naughty Dog has ruled out another Uncharted instalment and hinted it could still move on from The Last of Us. Despite recent rumours ...

Could the developer move on from The Last of Us after just two games? Let us know @trustedreviews on Twitter. All I could say is, at Naughty Dog we’re very, very privileged that our publisher is Sony — which means Sony funds our games, supports us, and we’re owned by Sony.

It still feels weird to write about Uncharted in the sacred pages of a PC gaming site, but I guess I won't have to much longer. In an interview with ...

Until then, you can check out the show, wait for the first game's release, or just keep warm with our own [Fraser Brown's nuclear-hot Last of Us takes](https://www.pcgamer.com/hbos-the-last-of-us-premiere-takes-disappointingly-few-creative-risks/) (opens in new tab). [Uncharted](https://www.pcgamer.com/uncharted-legacy-of-thieves-collection-review/) (opens in new tab) in the sacred pages of a PC gaming site, but I guess I won't have to much longer. So farewell Drake and Sully, but Druckmann is decidedly less definite about the future of The Last of Us. Those games are impressive showpieces with a lot of talent and production value behind them, but it's a series that feels like it's very much run its course at this point. Naughty Dog was "able to put [its] final brushstroke on that story and say that [its] done". Of course, it'd be strange if being one of Sony's most renowned and successful developers didn't afford you a little leeway in picking your own projects.

In spite of recent successes with The Last of Us Part 1 and an HBO adaptation, Naughty Dog may be prepared to say goodbye to its seminal franchise.

However, Naughty Dog will allegedly only make The Last of Us Part 3 if a compelling story can be crafted, and the studio is dedicated to its creation. Given the intense backlash elements of the sequel received, it would not be a surprise if some developers wished to distance themselves from the franchise. Naughty Dog could choose not to pursue a third installment of The Last of Us, opting instead to move on as it has done with Uncharted.

The creators of the show said they too were inspired by a documentary series that showed ants infected with a fungus that hijacks their brains.

He, however, added that only a certain type of the cordyceps - known as Ophiocordyceps fungi - has the capability for a hostile takeover of a specific insect. The game (and the series) is set across a post-apocalyptic United States, where some creatures are infected by a mutated fungus (called zombie fungus). Experts say it does and cite the example of certain fungi that infect insects. The Last of Us; WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?! We've filmed cordyceps fungus all over the world; even a Bhutan village where they drink them. And now, a series inspired by the game is streaming on HBO Max and making waves across the world.

The fungus which causes the pandemic is based on the real-life Cordyceps zombie fungus that infects insects. Insects infected with Cordyceps have little control ...

[the brain](https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/fungal.html). [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com) under a Creative Commons license. The number of people becoming ill with a serious fungal infections has been Many serious fungal infections begin in the lungs, after inhaling fungal spores in the air. Fungal infections tend also not to spread between people because of the way infections start. This may increase the number of species which can cause serious infections in humans. Most fungal infections aren’t like other infectious diseases, in that someone infected with one usually can’t give it to someone else. This is one reason why most fungal infections in humans tend to stay on the skin where it’s cooler (think athletes foot and ringworm). But a few species of fungi grow in warmer temperatures – and these are the ones that cause life-threatening infections. And just as one of the characters in The Last of Us suggests, climate change may present new problems. It’s also why only a small number of fungi are able to cause infections in humans relative to the size of the fungal kingdom. The show depicts a post-apocalyptic world where society has collapsed due to the outbreak of a dangerous, brain-controlling fungal infection that turns humans into hostile, cannibalistic “zombies”.

The Last of Us Episode 2, directed by Neil Druckmann, utilizes camerawork to amp up the tension of the clicker museum sequence.

It screeches and leaps upon him, pinning him to the ground and knocking Ellie down as well. There is a close-up of the horrifying clicker as it attempts to bite at Joel and Ellie, followed by tight shots of Ellie and Joel struggling to push it away. Joel is only saved by a noise from nearby that distracts the clicker, allowing him to crouch and try to find his companions. The shaky cam goes from a slight wobble to a constant jostle as Joel wrestles with a ravenous clicker. The camera follows Joel closely over his shoulder and reveals the source of the noise: Ellie, who is crouching behind a nearby table, now the target of the clicker's search. Joel knocks over a bust of Ben Franklin to cause a crash that disorients one of the clickers and buys him time to hide again. This begins the trio's descent into hell, as they attempt to evade the stalking clickers silently, knowing that a direct interaction with one could mean death. Whenever Joel swings the light around to inspect the area, this creates an inherent worry that the viewer is about to see something horrifying hiding in the dark. The creature has fungal growths over its eyes and scalp, blinding it, but it still has the ability to echolocate its prey with horrifying shrieks. The camera hangs close behind Ellie as the characters travel through the halls, making the viewer feel like they are third in line in this procession through an ersatz haunted house. [HBO](https://collider.com/tag/hbo/)'s [The Last of Us](https://collider.com/tag/the-last-of-us/) feature gripping portrayals of violence and post-apocalyptic horror. [to inspect a cordyceps sample](https://collider.com/last-of-us-hbo-episode-2-opening-scene-cordyceps/); the beautiful high contrast framing of the first bonding moment between Joel ( [Pedro Pascal](https://collider.com/tag/pedro-pascal/)) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), which creates a safe bright spot for them amid the surrounding darkness.

Humans will probably never face a fungal apocalypse, but in the insect world, mind-controlling fungi can pose a serious threat.

Of the 1.5 to 5 million fungus species, [humans only become ill](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-fungal-pathogens-are-the-most-harmful-to-human-health-180981035/) from a few hundred of them, which mostly threaten immunocompromised people, writes the Post. The Last of Us also suggests that part of what primed the planet for the fungal takeover is its warming temperatures. The show posits that as fungi adapt to a warmer planet, they could be better suited to infect humans. So, they have to come up with specialized types of compounds that can kill the fungi without harming the host.” [fungal infections](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fungi-that-cause-lung-infections-may-be-spreading-across-the-us-180981189/) in humans are relatively understudied and difficult to treat. Most fungi prefer temperatures lower than those of the human body, de Bekker tells Vox. “Fungi are more closely related to animals than they are plants,” Kasson tells the Ringer. The apocalyptic takeover of the human species by a mind-controlling fungal pathogen is implausible, Then, the fungus grows from the ant’s head, enabling it to effectively spread spores and infect more hosts. For one, the pathogen-carrying human hosts are not “undead”—they’re still alive. But it [leaves the ant’s brain intact](https://www.inverse.com/science/last-of-us-cordyceps), allowing it to manipulate the insect’s behavior. In typical zombie apocalypse stories, like The Walking Dead, World War Z and Train to Busan, a virus quickly transforms people into bloodthirsty monsters.

Bella Ramsay and Anna Torv as Ellie and Tess in a still image from HBO's The. Tess's story in HBO's The Last of Us had some major changes from the game. ( ...

And Joel has to absorb the reality of that at the moment. In the game, Joel starts to believe in Ellie's immunity when he sees her breathing spores and is fine. And we can see the difference," Mazin said. We've left the quarantine zone and that led to this other version where she's giving an opening to escape to Joel and Ellie by blowing up a bunch of infected." In the video game, being bitten by an infected still means certain death (for everyone except Ellie). Dark and dank smuggling tunnels are filled with spores, making the journey even more treacherous, especially for those without Ellie's immunity. "They're connected, and it's scarier when it feels like they're working as a unit than as individuals. Tess promises she'll buy Joel and Ellie time, and the pair leave her to a fatal showdown with the heavily armoured FEDRA soldiers. That is, if you could call the one of the grossest kisses on television ever a journey. Why the change then? You can see the game version below: It's disturbing and it's violative.

Naughty Dog Co-President Neil Druckmann said the studio "moved on" from Uncharted, but wasn't so definitive about The Last of Us Part III.

He also [confirmed in April 2021](https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/04/28/neil-druckmann-confirms-the-last-of-us-3-outline-is-written-well-see?amp) that he had an outline for a possible sequel, but made sure to say it was a “story that [Naughty Dog] is not making” even though he “[hoped] one day [it] can see the light of day.” “Our process is the same thing we did when we did Part II, which is if we can come up with a compelling story that has this universal message and statement about love — just like the first and second game did — then we will tell that story. Eventually, the developer came up with a story it wanted to tell, so it decided to go forward. “They have supported us every step of the way to follow our passions — meaning that just because something is successful, people think there’s all this pressure and we have to make a sequel. Druckmann used The Last of Us Part II to prove his point. Naughty Dog is known for many franchises, most recently Uncharted and The Last of Us.

Cryptococcal meningitis happens when a person with a defective immune system – usually caused by Aids – inhales the fungal spores. The fungus escapes the lungs ...

[the brain](https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/fungal.html). [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com) under a Creative Commons license. The number of people becoming ill with a serious fungal infections has been Many serious fungal infections begin in the lungs, after inhaling fungal spores in the air. Fungal infections tend also not to spread between people because of the way infections start. This may increase the number of species which can cause serious infections in humans. Most fungal infections aren’t like other infectious diseases, in that someone infected with one usually can’t give it to someone else. This is one reason why most fungal infections in humans tend to stay on the skin where it’s cooler (think athletes foot and ringworm). But a few species of fungi grow in warmer temperatures – and these are the ones that cause life-threatening infections. And just as one of the characters in The Last of Us suggests, climate change may present new problems. It’s also why only a small number of fungi are able to cause infections in humans relative to the size of the fungal kingdom. The show depicts a post-apocalyptic world where society has collapsed due to the outbreak of a dangerous, brain-controlling fungal infection that turns humans into hostile, cannibalistic “zombies”.

The Last of Us' writer and creative director Neil Druckmann has indicated that The Last of Us Part 3 might not happen in a recent interview.

While some would be disappointed by the news that The Last of Us Part 3 might not materialize, there is the argument to be made that The Last of Us Part 2 brought Joel, Ellie, and Abby's story to its natural conclusion with Ellie breaking the cycle of revenge. It would appear that Naughty Dog's parent company, Sony isn't pressuring the studio into making a third part either, despite the success of The Last of Us franchise. Part of Druckmann's statement about Sony's support of the studio confirmed that Naughty Dog has left behind its other major IP, Uncharted. Naughty Dog is currently working on a multiplayer game after The Last of Us: Part 2's multiplayer mode expanded to such a massive scale that it became a standalone title with its own story and a new cast of characters, but Druckmann explained that there are no plans for a third mainline entry in the franchise. As a result, an eventual The Last of Us Part 3 felt inevitable and potentially already in the works, however, The Last of Us' writer and co-director Neil Druckmann has indicated that this might not be the case. Since the saga began in 2013, The Last of Us has been largely praised for its storytelling which followed complex, morally gray characters Joel and Ellie as they try to survive a post-apocalyptic world in the wake of a fungal cordyceps outbreak.

Based on the acclaimed PlayStation video games from Naughty Dog, HBO's The Last of Us follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they make their ...

As episode 2 of The Last of Us makes very clear, a small number of clickers is enough to present a real challenge to even an assault-rifle-wielding Joel, highlighting just how formidable they really are. Spoilers ahead for The Last Of Us Episode 2.](https://screenrant.com/tag/the-last-of-us/) [](https://screenrant.com/tag/the-last-of-us/) [The Last of Us](https://screenrant.com/tag/the-last-of-us/) star Anna Torv explains how episode 2's tense clicker fight was brought to life and why it was even scary to film. In most other zombie movies and shows, including Dawn of the Dead and The Walking Dead, a virus is responsible for turning people into flesh-eating monsters, but The Last of Us's infection actually stems from a fungus. [CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/the-last-of-us-tess-actress-talks-filming-unbelievable-clickers-introduction-with-real-actors), Torv breaks down what the fight with the [clickers in The Last of Us episode 2](https://screenrant.com/last-of-us-show-clicker-design-video/) was like to film, revealing that the infected creatures weren't just terrifying on-screen, but in real life as well! Not only are some viewers already familiar with clickers and the other infected forms as a result of playing “So you're standing in the corner and then this huge - they're real tall, big guys - this big, tall guy comes in going - [Clicker noise] - to you, and it's dark, and you're like, 'I don't want to look at this.' So it was not difficult to be like - [gasps] - to get the fright.

The opening scenes of The Last of Us show the global scale of the outbreak without getting bogged down in exposition.

The time jumps have only aided in the series' storytelling thus far, and it's interesting to imagine what will be accomplished by continuing to play with this world's timeline as the season progresses. It explained exactly how this fungus could take over, how deadly it could be, and how unlikely this idea was for most of the people who heard about it in this world. Opening these episodes with smooth exposition and information about how the virus began from experts’ perspectives helps to immerse us in the world of the series. This scene showed the potential for the fungus to take over, even though it was far enough in the past that it was being discussed in an entirely hypothetical sense. The first scene of Episode 2 shows us the start of the virus’ spread on a global sense and just how extremely dire this situation was right off the bat from the perspective of the person who could best understand it. Of course, there’s a lot of effort and skill that goes into accomplishing this as quickly and smoothly as they have thus far, but there is one choice, in particular, that has had a major effect on what viewers have come to understand about the pandemic at the story's core.

In the game, food sources and spores are vectors for the disease, alongside the more traditional zombie thriller method of a bite. Given that spores and gas ...

Given that spores and gas masks would be difficult to incorporate into a TV scenario, the disease in the adaptation – a mind-controlling fungus called Cordyceps – becomes more of a physical, visible enemy. From what we’ve seen so far, the core aspects (and even some frames) have been translated directly from game to TV, but one crucial element of the story is different in the adaptation: the very nature of the infection and how it is transmitted. Released to widespread acclaim in 2013, it became the studio’s runaway success story and cemented its place as an industry leader when it comes to narrative storytelling in games.

The hit HBO series made its debut last week to huge acclaim, and has quickly become one of the most talked-about shows around. UK broadcaster Sky have now made ...

There's nothing confirmed yet, so we'll have to wait and see." "It's down to the guys at HBO. [Why The Last of Us's disgusting kiss scene was so unsettling](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a42617063/last-of-us-kiss-episode-2-ending/) [one of the network's fastest-growing shows ever](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a42638875/last-of-us-ratings-record-hbo/), with ratings increasing to 5.7 million for its second episode. [The Last of Us boss explains shocking kiss scene from episode 2](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a42630649/last-of-us-tess-death-kiss/) [The Last of Us](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a42631165/the-last-of-us-cold-opens/)' premiere episode has been made available to watch for free for fans in the UK and US.

How The Last of Us bucked the trend for failed video game adaptations and instead added depth to a much beloved game.

This further humanisation then stands in stark contrast to a reveal that poses the ultimate question of where the tipping point is between human and monster. More important, perhaps, is the exploration of hostile communities that game players would typically shoot their way through. While family is a core concern of the show, the theme of connection is also explored. The politics of peaceful communities is examined, from the militaristic Quarantine Zone where Joel first meets Ellie, to Tommy’s settlement – jokingly but truthfully derided as “communism” by Joel. These tendrils connect all the Infected – the series’ version of zombies. Even the Cordyceps is not immune to the rhetoric of connection. Step on a tendril in one place and you’ll wake a dozen Infected in another. The series further extends the game’s exploration of family by having Henry and Sam’s story intersect with new character Kathleen. The series’ tendrils instead actively seek out new victims and in one unsettling scene, defile a fundamental act of human connection and love to achieve this. The value of family extends to supporting characters who are exclusive to, or expanded upon in, the series. HBO’s adaptation takes this a step further by also briefly exploring Ellie’s connection to her mother. In 2023, such pandemics, as we’ve discovered, hue closer to science fact.

“Critically acclaimed series The Last Of Us, is fast proving to be the video-game adaptation fans have been waiting for,” a press release reads. “Sky and ...

The Last Of Us drew an audience of 4.7million, making it the second-largest debut for a HBO show after “Critically acclaimed series The Last Of Us, is fast proving to be the video-game adaptation fans have been waiting for,” a press release reads. The series has been met with a wave of positive reviews by critics and fans alike for its efforts to remain faithful to its source material. [House Of The Dragon](https://www.nme.com/series/house-of-the-dragon). [Game Of Thrones](https://www.nme.com/series/game-of-thrones), the video game adaption only managed half of the 9.86million viewers that tuned in for the Targaryen series. [called the series “an apocalyptically good video game port”](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/the-last-of-us-review-pedro-pascal-bella-ramsey-3376317) in a review of the series, adding that fans of the games “will love this ultra-faithful adaptation of the acclaimed zombie thriller”.

The hit HBO series is among the most-anticipated titles of this year. The Last of Us is a TV adaptation of the 2013 video game. The first episode debuted on 15 ...

The instalment runs for one hour and 20 minutes. [HBO](/topic/hbo) series is among the most-anticipated titles of this year. Those who do not have access to those platforms can now watch the first episode for free.

If the record viewership and star Pedro Pascal hosting SNL isn't enough to get you to tune in to HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us, SkyTV has given ...

Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey, “Game of Thrones”), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. The UK-based network is hosting the first episode of the hit series on its [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzGMFpLIcyE&ab_channel=SkyTV) for free. Storm Reid, Anna Torv, Jeffrey Pierce, Nick Offerman, Merle Dandridge, Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett and Con O’Neil will also star in the series, alongside video game voice actors Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson. HBO’s “The Last of Us” takes place twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Hopefully, HBO here in North America decides to give the rest of us a treat and host the first episode. So, having more eyeballs on the first episode would only increase incentive to sign up for a subscription, right?

HBO and Sky have given us something for the weekend: the first episode of critically acclaimed video game adaptation The Last of Us is now free to watch on ...

There’s The Last of Us creators on For more on what’s next, check out [why the episode is so long](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-last-of-us-episode-1-runtime-original-ending-change/), [the "boring" original opening](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-last-of-us-episode-1-alternate-opening-boring/) that was eventually scrapped, and Craig Mazin on [why they chose that song](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-last-of-us-episode-1-song-explained-craig-mazin-podcast/) to close out the premiere.

The series scored the network's second-biggest premiere of the decade, with the adaptation of the acclaimed video game garnering a 22% growth in viewership from ...

Originally seen as something of a gamble for HBO, the bet has paid off as The Last of Us has set pop culture alight and garnered record numbers of viewers on HBO Max, with the premiere episode reaching over 18 million viewers since its original airing just over a week ago. HBO - and its British partner, Sky - are marking this fact by making the premiere episode of the hit series free to view on YouTube. You can check out episode one of The Last of Us - for free - down below.

The Last of Us stars Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie. Beyond episode one, the series as a whole has received rave reviews from fans and critics ...

to keep generating interest and hype for the series. You can now watch the first episode for free via Sky TV's YouTube channel. This is, of course, a clever way for Sky and co.

The hit HBO adaptation of Naughty Dog's acclaimed zombie game gets a free demo.

For now you can catch up on the show with our [episode one](https://kotaku.com/the-last-of-us-hbo-episode-one-recap-review-joel-ellie-1849991813) and [two recaps](https://kotaku.com/last-of-us-tlou-hbo-tess-kiss-death-s1e2-recap-joel-1850017283). Naughty Dog is currently working on a [multiplayer-only spin-off](https://kotaku.com/last-of-us-3-spinoff-online-new-game-summer-game-fest-p-1847645374) of the series and might not return to it afterwards. [The Last of Us Part III isn’t guaranteed](https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/last-of-us-behind-the-scenes). [reportedly seen a wild boost in new sales](https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-last-of-us-part-1-sales-jumped-238-after-tv-show-launch-uk-boxed-charts) following the HBO adaptation’s release. If you’re reading this post, it’s probably because you haven’t seen the show yet, [so I won’t get into spoilers](https://kotaku.com/the-last-of-us-hbo-joel-ellie-mandalorian-maisie-willia-1849949334). [while deviating in others](https://kotaku.com/the-last-of-us-tlou-hbo-playstation-ps5-game-crafting-1850024402).

Spoiler alert for the first episode of “The Last of Us” The zombie apocalypse trope has, frankly, been overdone within media. From survival video games to ...

Marlene (Merle Dandridge), the leader of the Fireflies, asks Joel to take a young girl, Ellie, out of the QZ to a Firefly safehouse. The talk show ends on a serious note, with the scientist suggesting that if such a thing happens, “we lose.” While this scene does not occur in the game, it provides new fans with just the right amount of information to drop them straight into the apocalyptic world. The show opens with a talk show taking place in 1968, where a scientist warns about the potential dangers of fungi. In 2013, Sony and Naughty Dog’s survival horror video game “The Last of Us” managed to do just that, leaving a lasting impression on fans and the video game industry as a whole. In the show, rather than spreading through spores, the show’s infected are part of a hive mind, with touching a tendril able to awaken infected over a mile away. After years of waiting, HBO Max has finally released the first two episodes of the show “The Last of Us,” which closely follows the storyline of the original beloved game.

The apocalyptic drama starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey has been a breakout smash out of the gate. The series scored 97 percent positive reviews among ...

“I’m so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I’m even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey,” Mazin said about the renewal. Its [premiere episode](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/last-of-us-gabriel-luna-breaks-down-episode-1-1235300972/) earlier this month was [HBO’s](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-sunday-jan-15-2023-1235300975/) second-most-watched series debut in a decade and has since climbed to 22 million viewers across all platforms. [Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/the-last-of-us-hbo-pedro-pascal-bella-ramsey-interview-1235290103/) has been a smash hit out of the gate. It’s based on the 2013 PlayStation game from NaughtyDog. Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two!” “The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast and crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations. [cover story](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/the-last-of-us-hbo-pedro-pascal-bella-ramsey-interview-1235290103/), showrunners Druckmann and Mazin hinted that the show wouldn’t waste time before delving into the storyline in [The Last of Us](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/the-last-of-us/) Part II videogame (“I don’t like filler,” as Mazin put it). [HBO](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/hbo/): [The Last of Us](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-last-of-us-hbo-1235292687/) has been renewed for a second season. The Last of Us stars Pascal and Ramsey as a smuggler transporting a teenager girl across a postapocalyptic landscape. “The audience has given us the chance to continue, and as a fan of the characters and world Neil and Naughty Dog created, I couldn’t be more ready to dive back in.” Last Sunday’s second episode jumped 22 percent in the overnight ratings compared to the premiere across HBO and HBO Max. [Share this article on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-season-2-hbo-1235308683/&title=‘The%20Last%20of%20Us’%20Renewed%20for%20Season%202%20by%20HBO%20as%20Premiere%20Hits%2022M%20Viewers&sdk=joey&display=popup&ref=plugin&src=share_button&app_id=1153511048447777) [Share this article on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-season-2-hbo-1235308683/&text=%E2%80%98The%20Last%20of%20Us%E2%80%99%20Renewed%20for%20Season%202%20by%20HBO%20as%20Premiere%20Hits%2022M%20Viewers&via=thr) [Share this article on Email](mailto:?subject=thr%20:%20‘The%20Last%20of%20Us’%20Renewed%20for%20Season%202%20by%20HBO%20as%20Premiere%20Hits%2022M%20Viewers&body=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-season-2-hbo-1235308683/%20-%20‘The%20Last%20of%20Us’%20Renewed%20for%20Season%202%20by%20HBO%20as%20Premiere%20Hits%2022M%20Viewers) [Show additional share options](#) [Share this article on Print]() [Share this article on Comment](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-season-2-hbo-1235308683/#respond) [Share this article on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=‘The%20Last%20of%20Us’%20Renewed%20for%20Season%202%20by%20HBO%20as%20Premiere%20Hits%2022M%20Viewers%20-%20https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-season-2-hbo-1235308683/) [Share this article on Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=1&url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-season-2-hbo-1235308683/&title=‘The%20Last%20of%20Us’%20Renewed%20for%20Season%202%20by%20HBO%20as%20Premiere%20Hits%2022M%20Viewers&summary&source=thr) [Share this article on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-season-2-hbo-1235308683/&title=‘The%20Last%20of%20Us’%20Renewed%20for%20Season%202%20by%20HBO%20as%20Premiere%20Hits%2022M%20Viewers) [Share this article on Pinit](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-season-2-hbo-1235308683/&description=‘The%20Last%20of%20Us’%20Renewed%20for%20Season%202%20by%20HBO%20as%20Premiere%20Hits%2022M%20Viewers) [Share this article on Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool/preview?shareSource=legacy&canonicalUrl&url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-season-2-hbo-1235308683/&posttype=link&title=‘The%20Last%20of%20Us’%20Renewed%20for%20Season%202%20by%20HBO%20as%20Premiere%20Hits%2022M%20Viewers)

HBO has officially renewed the post-apocalyptic drama starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey for season 2, the network announced on Friday. Gamers can already ...

"I'm so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I'm even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey," Mazin added. On the night of its debut, The Last of Us tallied 5.7 million viewers, which marked a 22 percent increase from the first episode. Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two! [watched by 4.7 million viewers](https://ew.com/tv/the-last-of-us-premiere-ratings-second-largest-hbo-debut-since-boardwalk-empire/) across linear TV and HBO Max streaming the night the drama premiered on Jan. "We won't run into the same issue as [Game of Thrones](https://ew.com/creative-work/game-of-thrones/) since Part II doesn't end on a cliffhanger." By the end of the week, it became 18 million.

Following the announcement, executive producer and Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann has confirmed in a tweet (below) that the second season will follow ...

Robin Fisichella (Ma) will executive produce.Cocaine Bear will open in theaters on February 24, 2023.](/videos/cocaine-bear-official-trailer) [Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey - Official TrailerCheck out the unsettling trailer for this violent new take on a beloved childhood classic. The Machines) and Aditya Sood (The Martian) for Lord Miller, by Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman (Pitch Perfect franchise) for Brownstone Productions, and by Brian Duffield (Spontaneous). [In our 9/10 review of Season 1](/articles/the-last-of-us-season-1-review), IGN said: “HBO's The Last of Us is a stunning adaptation that should thrill newcomers and enrich those already familiar with Joel and Ellie's journey alike.” Fellow executive producer Craig Mazin added: “I’m so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I’m even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey. [The first episode of The Last of Us was uploaded to YouTube for free](/articles/hbos-the-last-of-us-episode-1-officially-released-on-youtube-for-free) ahead of the Season 2 announcement as HBO looks to draw in even more viewers to its adaptation. “The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast and crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations.

The brain-controlling fungal pandemic in HBO's post-apocalyptic thriller is not fiction. It just doesn't affect humans.

- Preferential invites to Business Standard events. What leads to this iconic, heart-wrenching scene is an outbreak of cordyceps fungal infection, which is turning humans into cannibalistic zombies. Though Joel survives, Sarah is wounded by bullets and dies in her father’s arms.

One of the biggest names in mycology is Paul Edward Stamets, a mycologist, and entrepreneur who studies fungi and sells products made from them. Stamets saw ...

There are fungi that are predatory. There are plants that are predatory. There are animals that are predatory. "Who knows, a young person watching this series could become our Einstein of mycology and help save the world from the toxins we create. One of the biggest names in mycology is Paul Edward Stamets, a mycologist, and entrepreneur who studies fungi and sells products made from them. The lore behind The Last of Us explains that [a virus is spread](https://collider.com/the-last-of-us-opening-scenes/) - via spores in the game, via tendrils in the television adaptation - through the Cordyceps virus, which takes control of the frontal cortex and essentially turns the human host into a mindless husk focused purely on spreading the virus.

The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast & crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations,” said executive producer Neil Druckmann, who was ...

“I’m so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I’m even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey,” said executive producer and showrunner Craig Mazin. [largest week two audience growth](https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/the-last-of-us-episode-2-ratings-viewers-1235499252/) for any HBO drama series in the history of the network. Mazin and Druckmann co-created the series version of “The Last Of Us,” with both serving as executive producers. In addition to strong reviews to the tune of a 97% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, episode two reached 5.7 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max in the U.S. The move to renew the series comes as little surprise, as it has been a hit with both critics and audiences. “I’m humbled, honored, and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and connected with our retelling of Joel and Ellie’s journey.

HBO Max has greenlit a second season of The Last of Us, based on The Last of Us Part 2 video game. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey should gear up to fight ...

(And if you’re on the fence about the series but don’t have an HBO Max subscription, HBO has made the [first episode of The Last of Us available for free on the streaming service](https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516586&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbomax.com%2Fcollections%2Fwatch-free%2Fthe-last-of-us-s1-e1&referrer=polygon.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.polygon.com%2F23574412%2Fthe-last-of-us-season-2-hbo-max).) The audience has given us the chance to continue, and as a fan of the characters and world Neil and Naughty Dog created, I couldn’t be more ready to dive back in.” And HBO seems to think so too — The Last of Us will return for a second season, the network announced Friday. The third episode of The Last of Us, “Long Long Time,” premieres Sunday on HBO and HBO Max at 9 p.m. [House of the Dragon](https://www.polygon.com/23315490/house-of-the-dragon-episode-1-review)’s debut, and the show’s audience grew by more than 20% for the second episode. [The Last of Us](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23547254/last-us-review-hbo-tv) is already shaping up to be one of the best TV shows of 2023, a natural evolution from a video game borrowing [the style of prestige TV](https://www.polygon.com/gaming/23552202/last-of-us-greatest-video-game-status) to prestige TV borrowing [the style of a video game](https://www.polygon.com/23550840/last-of-us-easter-eggs-game-tv-hbo-season-1).

Looks like HBO's adaptation will be diving into part 2 of the beloved PlayStation video game series.

[The Last of Us Part 2](/deals/the-last-of-us-part-2-is-a-profound-and-harrowing-sequel/), which came to PS4 in 2020. The third episode airs on HBO and HBO Max [this Sunday](/culture/entertainment/the-last-of-us-release-schedule-when-does-episode-3-come-out-on-hbo-max/). [The Last of Us](/culture/entertainment/hbo-the-last-of-us-is-a-stunning-triumph-of-video-game-adaptation/) will return for season 2, HBO announced Friday.

Before you're ready for The Last of Us Part II, HBO is celebrating by making the first episode of the PlayStation adaptation available for free on HBO Max.

While you wait for season two however, HBO has announced that the premiere episode of the series is now available to watch online for free. “I’m so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I’m even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey,” fellow executive producer Craig Mazin added. [The Last of Us](https://gizmodo.com/last-of-us-action-sequences-pedro-pascal-neil-druckmann-1850024297) is already proving to be a fungi-laden hit for HBO, so to the surprise of no one, the network has announced that the series will return for a second season. The good news for fans of Pedro Pascal is that for once this actually applies outside of the U.S. Can’t crack jokes about just watching the cutscenes from the game instead if you can actually just watch the episode! On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog and PlayStation, thank you!”

The new information we're given about the Cordyceps fungus and how it connects the infected makes spores completely redundant in HBO's The Last of Us.

When Joel shoots an infected in the State House, a swarm nearby is alerted not because of the noise, but because of the fungus. So we may get a variation of that tool, perhaps with the bloaters doing something different. In the game, spores are one of the ways the cordyceps has of spreading itself. That would make not just their work a ton more difficult, but for us, it wouldn't be fun seeing them behind masks for a good chunk of the story. Introducing series-only elements like that is a valid way to differentiate it from the game, so we don't get an exact replica of a story we already know all the details about. When they reach the State House, Tess compares her bite with Ellie's, and it's clear that the girl's body has no problem dealing with the injury, while Tess is about to turn into an infected. "In the world that we're creating, if we put spores in the air, it would be pretty clear that they would spread around everywhere." Also, the bloaters (one of the variants of the infected, this one extremely strong, with fungus covering its whole body) have the ability to blow spores themselves, so it's never a wise move to deal with them head-on. [interview](https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-last-of-us-spores-changed-games-tv-show-adaptation/) that the spores, one of the most common ways of contagion in the game, would not be brought to television. [the cordyceps fungus](https://collider.com/the-last-of-us-cordyceps-infection-explained/) also grows underground, forming a kind of network that connects whole swarms of infected. asks an extremely curious Ellie (Bella Ramsey) to Tess (Anna Torv) and Joel (Pedro Pascal) in this week's episode of She immediately notices that, when the sun hits a few of them, the whole swarm starts to squirm, so they're connected.

Created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, The Last of Us follows Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) as he takes a young girl, Ellie (Bella Ramsey), across the country.

Any changes to the gameplay lore have felt purposeful and tend to help the series stand on its own, so I trust that whatever route that Mazin and Druckmann decide to take in season 2 will do justice to the heaviness of The Last of Us Part II. Considering that The Last of Us Part II also features flashbacks to a younger Ellie after the events of Part I, it would make sense to just keep Bella Ramsey as both the younger and older versions of Ellie. Not only does The Last of Us Part II have the emotional impact of Abby and Ellie’s intertwined story for the HBO series to draw on, it also introduces several unique mutations of the cordyceps infection. [mycelial tendrils that connect the infected to each other](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/how-the-last-of-us-series-will-change-the-cordyceps-infection/). [don’t plan on diving too far into this world](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-last-of-us-series-plans-to-avoid-game-of-thrones-adaptation-issues/) beyond what is already laid out in the games, The Last of Us Part II’s compelling and [controversial story](https://www.denofgeek.com/games/the-last-of-us-part-2-controversy-explained/) still leaves plenty for the HBO series to explore across a second, and maybe even third, season. [Clickers and Bloaters](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-last-of-us-the-cordyceps-brain-infection-explained/), though they are mostly native to wet climates. Despite the amount of violence enacted by both Abby and Ellie throughout the course of the game as they seek vengeance for each other’s actions, The Last of Us Part II is an exercise in empathy and a great reminder that just because we’re the hero of our own story doesn’t mean we’re not the villain of someone else’s. In an interview with [Entertainment Weekly](https://ew.com/tv/the-last-of-us-tess-death-zombie-kiss/?utm_campaign=entertainmentweekly_entertainmentweekly&utm_content=new&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_term=63cdfa8fef5a2d0001c13f4c), Mazin said “I don’t necessarily think we’ve eliminated spores from the universe of our show,” he says. The gameplay lets us spend more time with Ellie as one of the playable protagonists, with the other main playable character being a new addition, Abby. [record-breaking debut](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-last-of-us-ratings-bode-well-for-a-possible-season-2/), HBO’s adaptation of [The Last of Us](https://www.denofgeek.com/the-last-of-us/) has officially been renewed for a second season. And then, the story that remains, that continues forth in the work that Naughty Dog’s done on the second game, is a lot. In a world ravaged by a fungal pandemic, her immunity to the Cordyceps infection could be humanity’s last hope at survival.

Looks like HBO's adaptation will be diving into part 2 of the beloved PlayStation video game series.

[The Last of Us Part 2](/deals/the-last-of-us-part-2-is-a-profound-and-harrowing-sequel/), which came to PS4 in 2020. The third episode airs on HBO and HBO Max [this Sunday](/culture/entertainment/the-last-of-us-release-schedule-when-does-episode-3-come-out-on-hbo-max/). [The Last of Us](/culture/entertainment/hbo-the-last-of-us-is-a-stunning-triumph-of-video-game-adaptation/) will return for season 2, HBO announced Friday.

Mushroom fans rejoice! HBO has confirmed its critically acclaimed live-action TV adaptation of The Last of Us will be returning for a second season.

And with a [third game](https://www.eurogamer.net/naughty-dog-moving-on-from-uncharted-open-to-the-last-of-us-part-3-if-it-has-a-compelling-story) possible - providing Naughty Dog can find a "compelling story" - there may even be scope for more beyond that in the future. [recently aired second episode](https://www.eurogamer.net/lets-recap-the-last-of-us-episode-two), added "I'm humbled, honoured, and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and connected with our retelling of Joel and Ellie's journey. And if you've not yet had the chance to see what all the fuss is about, HBO has now made the series' first episode [critical](https://www.eurogamer.net/hbos-the-last-of-us-tv-adaptation-is-getting-rave-reviews-from-critics) and ratings smash since it premiered on 15th January. The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast and crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations...Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two! And now, just under three weeks into The Last of Us' first season, HBO has confirmed there's more on the way.

Belen Edwards is an Entertainment Reporter at Mashable. She covers movies and TV with a focus on fantasy and science fiction, adaptations, animation, and more ...

Can we expect The Last of Us Part III? Our process is the same thing we did when we did Part II, which is if we can come up with a compelling story that has this universal message and statement about love — just like the first and second game did — then we will tell that story. [Season 1 covers the entire events of the first Last of Us game](https://mashable.com/article/does-the-last-of-us-season-1-cover-the-entire-first-game), that means Season 2 will adapt Naughty Dog's [The Last of Us Part II](https://mashable.com/article/last-of-us-part-2-review). But as a writer, I don’t want to be in the position of spinning plates to just spool out season after season of stuff." But once that's done, can we expect more seasons of The Last of Us? So assuming we can keep going forward, the idea would be to do more than just one more season."

And while the intertwined fates of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) are slowly simmering in the background, not quite ready to boil yet, Episode 2 ...

Tess and Ellie certainly can't be called mother and daughter despite the trio accidentally imitating a nuclear family unit. Thanks to time spent and Tess facing down the barrel of her own imminent mortality, Ellie suddenly evolves from a commodity into the living manifestation of Tess's redemption. A younger Tess in her Michigan days might've been a proto-Ellie, and it's not a leap to imagine Ellie growing into a congruent figure — hopefully, if a The Last of Us Part III materializes, one less correspondingly broken by the world. Earlier in the episode, Ellie attempts to small talk with the grumpy dude she's also stuck with. Although the writers hold Tess's past close to their chests, Torv's impeccably agonized performance spills over with remorse and the last embers of a hope she thought long dead. The woman who informed Ellie that she and Joel weren't "good people" Tess is a damn experienced woman who meets Ellie at her level and then demands the teenager rise to Tess's by responding maturely. Compared to other media, Tess's approach, and the result, are wildly different. (This isn't a departure from the game, but nuance, perspective, and scene blocking make all the difference.) Tess's ultimate motivations surrounding Ellie remain the same game-to-screen, but making the two so complimentary strengthens a piece of the narrative spine and adds more meat to the entire story's bones. The older woman considers Ellie a means to her and Joel's beneficial end even as Ellie's uniqueness plants the first seeds of doubt in Tess's mind. Underneath Ellie's bluster, the girl longs to be listened to and listen in return.

Don't have an HBO subscription? No problem. ... Looking for something to watch this weekend? The first episode of HBO's acclaimed The Last of Us TV series is now ...

HBO recently announced that [The Last of Us will return for a second season.](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hbos-the-last-of-us-renewed-for-season-2/1100-6510940/) [horrifying climax](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-last-of-us-star-anna-torv-on-that-horrific-episode-2-climax/1100-6510751/). Episode 1 is nearly as long as movie, clocking in at 1 hour and 20 minutes. [ here's how to get his sweet trucker jacket.](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-to-get-pedro-pascals-sweet-jacket-from-the-last-of-us/1100-6510768/) As for the Last of Us game series, Naughty Dog has said it [isn't necessarily going to make The Last of Us: Part III](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/naughty-dog-is-done-with-uncharted-and-might-not-make-last-of-us-3-neil-druckmann-says/1100-6510879/), while it is ["done" with the Uncharted series.](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/naughty-dog-is-done-with-uncharted-and-might-not-make-last-of-us-3-neil-druckmann-says/1100-6510879/) Looking for something to watch this weekend? [first episode of the Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon free for a period of time](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/house-of-the-dragon-ep-1-is-now-on-youtube-just-as-lotr-rings-of-power-launches/1100-6507097/) to help drum up interest in the series.